The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-06-30
ENTRY NO. 1888.

ENTRY NO. 1879.
Far out in the southern portion of
the territory, near where the sinuous
waters of Snake creek have changed
the usually undulating and gently
rolling prairie into high and precipit-
Gus bluffs, there stood, in the fall of
1877, an isolated claim shanty.
There was nothing about the exte-
rior of this little shack to distinguish
it from hundreds of it's kind scattered
throughout Dakota, unless it was an
indefinable air of neatness, that SEEM
ed to exude from the cottonwood
timber, of which the shanty was con-
structed.
A close inspection would have re-
vealed a suspicious white something,
stretched across the only window the
cabin boasted, and this, perhaps,
caused the growing sensation to ripen
into a feeling Of certainty that a
woman's deft hand had been at work
and that the shack, rough and un-
calmly as it was, gave shelter to one of
Dakota's fair pioneers.
At least such were the impressions
received by tired, dust -begrimed
traveller, who had for some minutes
been intently viewing the surround
ings, and now suddenly emerged from
the tall grass that encircled the claim
and walked slowly across the open
space which served as fire-break
He was evidently stranger to the
locality and as he drew nearer the
shack, glanced furtively around, as
though taking a mental survey of the
premises. His shoes bore evidence of
a long, weary tramp, and his clothes
were soiled and dusty from close con-
tact with the tall, dry grass through
which he had trudged. A dark SOM
brero helped to shade face that was
thickly coated with dust and over
which streams of perspiration had
coursed on each side with fantastic
streaks. A heavy, blonde moustache
almost concealed small and irreso-
lutte mouth, which, with a pair of
light blue eyes. lent somewhat wav-
ering expression to the features.
AS the man passed tho solitary win
dow, he hesitated and stopped, then
with a nervous pull at his moustache
strobe quickly forward and raped
sharply on the door of the cabin.
A moments delay and it was open-
ed, revealing the figure of a woman,
who stood in the doorway, looking
almost in the intruder's eyes.
She might have been about thirty,
stood q tritle above the medium height
and was dressed neatly in dark ging.
ham gown. A critic would not have
pronounced her pretty, nor even said
that her features were regular, but he
would have noted it was face full of
character, firmness and sad sweet
ness.
As soon as her eyes grew accus-
toned to the glare of the setting sun,
which shone full upon her face, they
rested on the tall, broad-shOuldered
stranger who had so boldly ventured
on her claim.
There was a startled recognition,
and an involuntary cry escaped her
lips. then she exclaimed sadly:
''What! yOw, Stephen?"
Yes" returned the man, quietly,
sit is l, Relief; may come IMP"
The question seemed to recall the
woman to herself, as she stood gazing
in a vague, yet wistful manner at the
applicant, who, hat in hand, stood
penitently before her, then with a
sudden resolve, as though born of
some inward struggle, she stepped
back pace and said quietly:
Eyes, Stephen, you may"
MOtiOning him to the only chair the
cabin possessed, she seated herself on
a low box, which covered with Gre
tonne, served as a settee, and for some
minutes gazed intently on the bare
floor.
In silence also the man sat ner-
vously lingering his sombrero and evil
IDENTIFY waiting for her to speak. At
last the stiffness becoming intolerable,
he rose, crossed to where the woman
sat with head bent, and grasping her
right hand, cried:
s'Oh, Reef! Reef! say that you will
try to forgive me. / was bewitched,
crazed, an imbecile, but oh, Relief, my
wife! know now that love none but
you"
your wife! Stephen, how dare
youp'
She had disengaged her hand and
now sat with head erect, looking him
steadily in the face. There was moth
ing scornful in her gaze, nothing to
denote the outraged feelings which
this man, her husband, had so cruelty
trampled upon, but instead, quiet,
mournful expression fingered on her
face as she continued:
eyes, once your wife, Stephen, but
the time has gone by forever when
you could so address me and you have
forfeited all right to use the title"
'.God knows I have wronged you,
Relief" said the man earnestly, "but
have been punished enough for it,
and if hard work and long life OF
watchful care devoted to you might in
a measure atone for my cursed folly,
there is no sacrifice would not make
if you would once more give me the
right to call you by that dear name"
A sudden flush suffused her cheeks
and there was rising infection in her
voice as she replied:
THAT name, Stephen, you cannot
speak until you have proved beyond
doubt your right to use ii" Then,
growing trifie more excited, she
added: '.Why have you followed me
out here to recall those days when the
name possessed such deep and holy
significance; when 1 so foolishly be-
lieved that you really loved me; thai
your caresses were pure and for me
alone! Why have you disturbed me,
1 ask. and where is She! that you are
not with herp"
The man started at the latter ques.
ton and shifted uneasily in his seat
then lifting his eyes to the flushed
face of his inquisitor, in a low, un
steady voice he answered;
<'Relisf, she is deadw